Racing: Thrilling filly still not for sale

Gordon Lambert says he doesn't need $1.3 million.

Even if he did, it is doubtful he would have swapped for money the thrill he got from watching his outstanding filly Mi Jubilee taking Saturday's $120,000 Ford Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes at Ellerslie.

A million wouldn't even come close to buying the smile Lambert wore for hours after the stunning victory.

Lambert, whose business is produce in Wanganui, showed no interest at all in the $1.3 million he was offered for Mi Jubilee after she won at Matamata at her previous start and the not for sale sign is not about to come down.

It's not a matter of amount, he says.

"No money could buy her. I've won a lot of races in my life, but I've never had one like her. You can't buy this sort of fun."

Mi Jubilee looks a certainty to be the season's leading juvenile. She will go to the $45,000 Ford 2YO Classic at New Plymouth on April 2, followed by the $120,000 Ford Manawatu Sires Produce and her opposition is being cleared away, that's if she has real opposition.

Wahid is likely to be spelled and Darci Brahma will race next at the Queensland winter carnival.

With her ability to take no stress, either physical or mental, from her races, she should strip for those two races in the same magnificent condition Stephen Crutchley produced her in on Saturday.

"Imagine her scooting around that New Plymouth track," said Lambert. "She won't even know she's had a race."

She did not know she had had one on Saturday, which is staggering given she ran the 1200m in 1.08.98, unheard of for a 2-year-old filly.

It isn't just her speed that is impressive.

The way she headed after leader Kindacross in the home straight, clearly said: 'here I come, get out of my way.'

Understandably, rider David Walker has a huge opinion of the filly.

"She's brilliant, but it's controlled speed. You can say what you like about Dr Green, his speed is not controlled, hers is."

Even more pleased than Lambert that Mi Jubilee remains in New Zealand are studmaster brothers Gerald and Rex Fell, who stand the filly's first-year sire Howbaddouwantit. You could not have a better advertisement.

Even though Darci Brahma was comprehensively beaten, he did a marvellous job to take ground off the winner in the closing stages after being a touch slow from the gates.

"It's not as though he missed the start, he's just not a fast horse early," said Australian jockey Scott Seamer, who made a special trip to ride the colt.

After his first feel of Darci Brahma, Seamer declared the colt is not a natural 2-year-old.

"He's just starting to show that he's out of a Zabeel mare. But next season that Zabeel factor will be in his favour, it will bring the toughness out in him.

"That was the first time he's been in a field - every time he goes around he'll get better."

Seamer felt the Queensland Sires Produce Stakes, in which he will ride him again, will suit Darci Brahma.